Self-serving table



April 21, 1925. 1534557 C. D. WlLLlMS SELF SERVING TABLE Filed March 9, 1925 2 sheets sheet 1 7:9, 7 I I .nml

(e /a i E 3 a I I'// /l/l//A ju-vehte@ April 21, 1925.

C. D. WILLIAMS SELF SERVING TABLE Filed March 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES COMMODORE D. WILJIADS, OF CARUTHERSVILLE, MISSOUR-I.

SELF-SERVING TABLE.

Application filed March 9, 1923. Serial No. 623344.

TO (ZZ 'whom 'may cm'cezn:

Be it known that I, CoMMoDoRE D. lVIL- LIAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Caruthersville, in the county of Pemiscot and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Serving Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

The invention relates to tables and aims to provide an article of this nature which obviates the passing of dishes from one to the other when dining, thereby overconing the annoyance incident to such practiceand preventing the spillingof food.

The invention furthermore provides a table which admits of the host passing a plate to any guest or person seatedat the table without the assistance of any other guest or person, the arrangement being such that `the plate may be passed either to the right or the left as may be desired or found most convenient.

The invention also provides a table which enables any one seated thereat obtaining any desired article without the necessity of requestng some one else to pass the same.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

W'hile the drawings illustrate an emhodi-` ment of the im'ention, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet dit 't'erent conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construotion may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring'to the acconpanying drawings forming a part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a side view of a table embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a' vertical central sectional view of the upper portion of the table showing the parts on a larger scale,

Figure 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure i is a sectional detail showing more clearly the clutch between the drive shaft and drive pinion.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail showing more clearly the nounting of the drive gear and the relation of the drive shatt theroto,

Fgure 6 is a sectional detail on, the line 6-6 of Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-7 of Figure 2, the parts being shown on a smaller scale. y

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings. by like reference characters. i

A table constructed in accordance with this invention embodies a stand which includes legs l and a connecting band 2. The upper ends of the legs l are cut away upon the inner sides as indicated at 3 to receive the band 2 and a bed piece 4. The band 2 connects the legs 1 and is secured to the vertical faces of the cut away portions 3. The bed piece 4 rests upon the horizontal faces of the cutout portons 3. rests upon the stand and is secured to the band 2 and legs l in any manner. The parts may be of any design and finish depending largely upon the cost of the table.

A rotary platform 7 surmounts the cen tral portion of the table 5 and is adapted to be turned to the right or to the left as required. A ring 6 depends froni the platform 7 and is concentric with the axis thereof. A block S is secured centrally to the bed piece 4 and its upper end receives a pivot 9 depending from a companion block 10 attached centrally to the under side of the platform 7. The central portion of the table 5 is cut away to receive the band 6 and the marginal portion of the platform 7 overlaps the inner portion of the table 5 bordering upon said opening. i\ ring gear ll is attached to the lower edge of the ring 6 and is in mesh with drive pinions 12 fast to the inner ends of shafts 13 jour` naled in bearings 14: attached to the bed piece 4. The inner faces of the drive pinions 12 are formed with conical recesses 15 which eonstitute clutch elements. Complemental clutch elements 16 at opposite ends of the drive shaft 17 are adapted to eooperate with the respective clutch elements 15. The drive shaft 17 may occupy a neutral position or be moved longitudinally to throw it into clutch engagement with either one of the drive pinions 12, whereby the platform 7 may be rotated either to the right or left as desired. The drive shaft 17 passes through an opening formed in the block 8 and is adapted to be moved The table top 5 longitudinally by means of a lever 18, the inner end of which is forked to embrace the shaft 17 between collars 19. The outer end oi" the lever 18 passes through a slot formed in the band 2 so as to be Conveniently reached and operated. A drive gear 19 loose upon the shatt 17 is rotatable with a' shaft 20 mounted in a hearing 21 attached to the bed piece 4:. The shaft 20 is hollow and the shaft 17 passes loosely therethrough. The shaft 17 is mounted in a hearing :32 secured to the bed piece 4. While the shatt 17 is mounted to move longitudinally, nevertheless it is rotatable with the 'shat't 20 and drive gear 19, This is effected by means ol" a pin 23 projecting laterally from the sha'it 17 Operating in a longitudinal slot 21 ormed in a side of the hollow shatt 20. The gear 19 is adapted to be driven in one direction froni any suitable source of power and as indicated an electric motor 25 is atiached to the bed piece 4 and its shatt is provided with a drive pinion 26 which in mesh with the drive gear 19. The motor 25 niay be of any type and is included in a circuit (not shown) adapted to be con trolled by means of a switch 27 located in any convenient position and preferably near the projecting end of the Operating lever 18 as indicated most clearly in F ure 1.

hen the circuit including the motor 2.3 is closed, the drive shatt 17 is rotated continuously in the same direction and when moved into clutch engagement with either one of the drive pinions 12 imparts a corresponding movement to the platform 7, the latter rotating to the right or left according to which of the drive pinions ,12 is in clutch engagement with the drive shalt 17. The movement of the platform 7 is slow by reason of the relative proportions of the elements comprising the train of gearing between the motor and the said platform. The clutch 15-16 is of the 'riction type, lhereby providing for slippingif desired by proper manipulation ot the lever 18 as will be readily understood.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A self-serving table adapted for sup- :ort on a floor com risin a stand a table. 1 b 7 top mounted upon the stand, a rotary platform ,in substantially the same plane as the top and :torming a continuation thereot, disposed centrally of the table top, a ring gear carried by the rotary platform, a drive shaft, means for rotating the drive shatt in one direction, and means engageable by a person while seated about the table, for connecting the drive shaft at either end to the ring gear whereby to rotate the platform in the required direction.

2. A self serving table adapted for support on a fioor comprising a stand, a table top mounted upon the stand, a rotary platform in substantially the same plane as the top forming a continuation there@ and disposed centrally of the table top, a ring gear connected with the rotary platform, drive pinions in mesh with the ring gear. at dianietrically opposite points, a longitudinally movable drive shaft adapted tobe thrown into clutch engagement with either of said drive pinions, means for rotating the drive shaft in one direction, and manually operable means engageable by a person while seated about the table for moving the drive shaft into clutch engagement with either one of said drive pinions.

3. In a self-serving table adapted 'or support on a floor, a rotary platform disposed in substantially the same plane as the top and forming a continuation thereof, a ring gear having connection with the under side of said platform, oppositely disposed drive pinions in meshwith the ring gear, a longitudinally movable drive shaft, clutches between the drive pinions and drive shaft, a drive gear rotatable with the drive shat't and having the latter movable axiallythereof, means manuallyoperable by a person while seated` aboutthe table for throwing the drive shaft into clutchengagement with either one of said drive pinions, and a motor for Operating said drive gear.

In testimony Whereof I aiiix ny signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

COMMODORE. D. XVIL-LIAMS. lVitnesses Ennn MTILSON, Dr. THOS. J. CENTER. 

